US Central Command Unveils $320 Million Floating Pier for Humanitarian Aid Delivery to Gaza

The United States Central Command has released photos of a $320 million floating pier being constructed off the coast of Gaza to deliver humanitarian aid to the region's starving population. The pier, which is part of a joint plan with Israel, is expected to begin delivering aid in early May.

Crews from the USNS Roy P. Benavidez and several Army vessels started building the floating platform, known as the Joint Logistics Over-the-Shore (JLOTS) system, last week. The next step is the construction of a causeway anchored to the shore by the Israel Defense Forces. U.S. and Israeli officials aim to complete the pier and causeway and begin operations by early May.

The plan is for commercial ships to load aid in Cyprus, which will then be transferred to the floating platform and transported to the causeway and into Gaza. The U.S. military will initially facilitate the delivery of 90 daily truckloads of humanitarian aid, which is expected to eventually increase to about 150 truckloads or 2 million meals per day.

Why this matters: The humanitarian situation in Gaza remains dire, with the entire population of 2.2 million people facing food insecurity. The construction of the floating pier represents a significant effort to alleviate the suffering and deliver much-needed aid to the region.

The Israeli Defense Force will provide force protection on and around the JLOTS, and there will be an integrated cell between the U.S. military and the IDF to ensure coordination. However, the project has faced challenges, including a mortar attack near the port site on Wednesday, though no one was hurt.

The construction of the pier comes as the humanitarian situation in Gaza continues to deteriorate. "All 2.2 million people in Gaza do not have enough to eat," said a U.S. defense official familiar with the matter. The United Nations has appealed for $2.5 billion to meet the urgent needs of the people living in the Gaza Strip between April and December 2024.

Key Takeaways

• US military building $320M floating pier off Gaza to deliver humanitarian aid
• Pier construction started last week, with causeway to be built by Israel
• Aim to complete pier and causeway by early May to begin aid delivery
• Entire Gaza population of 2.2M faces food insecurity, UN appeals for $2.5B
• Israeli forces to provide security, US-Israel coordination to ensure delivery